Plug for well-casings.



R. G. BAKER.

PLUG FOR WELL GASINGS.

APPLIUATION FILED Nov. zo. 1911.

Patented N 0V. 18, 1913.

Inventor Witnesses TREUBEN C. Bannon contraten, 'CALIFORNIA'.

4PLUG ron -wEnL-cmsmes.

'Speci-cation 'ofiL'ecters' Patent.

PatentedNov. A18, 1913s applica/cimmed' November 2o, i911.seria11vo.ee1,2o7.

To all fio/1,0m it may concern Be itfknown that I, REUBEN C. BAKER, acitizen of the 'United States, residing at Coalinga, in the county ofFresno and State of California, haveinvented a new and usefulPlug forWell-Casings, of which the following isa specification. l

This invention relates to plugs rfor deep well easings, 'and has for itsprimary object to provide means for plugging the lower end of the wellcasing for the lower end of the wellto shut out or eXclude water andother foreigumatter from thelower strata.

It is -a vfurther object to provide a suitable plug which may be passeddown the well easing after lthe casing has been inserted into the welland upon theplug-reaching the lowerend of the casing is adapted to beengaged thereto to close the lower end of the casing.

To the above ends this invention is enibodiedfin the novel constructionand combination of parts as hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing, wherein- Figure 1 is alongitudinal section of the pluggishowing the same inposition as it isbeing lowered down .the well casing. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of ltheplug, a lfragmental portion of the 4well casing being shown. Fig. Sisaview similar to Fig. 1 showing the plug in position at the'bottom ofthe well casing after the well casing has been depressed into the cementatthe lower end of the well. Fig =4 is a section on the line 44 of Fig.l1.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the well casing has beendesignatedby the referencel character 'P and the wellby the referencecharacter W.

The plug comprises a -hollow body embodying a conical top 12 havingperforations 13 therein, and an inverted conical bottorn 7 having theapex thereof openas designated .by the numeral 8, a perforatedpartition24 above the bottom having ,perforations 25 therein, and ataperedintervening throat 6 with the-smallest end uppermost,

the body having diametrically o posed.

openings or slots 27 in the sides lhereof above they throat `and thesaidthroat forming shoulders -26 and 28 at the upper and lower.endsthereof respectively. A stem 10 is slidable through the top of thebody and through the partition 24 'and extends through the opening 8,and on the lower end thereof is screw threaded an inverted conical valve9 whichis adapted tvo-seat-in the opening 8 -to close the said opening,and

when so seated coperates with the'bottom 7 to present an invertedconical bottom for the plug. A pair of collars 22 and 1 8 are secured onthe stem 10 within the body of the plug, and -a coil compression springis arranged on the stern between thepartition 24 -and the lowerinostCollarv 22 to give an upward tension to the stem. Dogs orpawls 21 arepivoted in the openings 27 in the upper end 5 of the body by pins 20 andhave the outer ends thereof eccentric with the pins 20 and toothed andhave inwardly projeeting tin-gers 19 adapted to rest on the uppermostcollar 18 when the stem is depressed to retain the dogs in inactive orretracted position. The stem 10 is normally retained in depressedposition bya cast iron or other fragile pin 17 passed therethrough inthe top of the body, the said pin being of sufficient strength toovercome the tension ol' the spring 23. The stem 10 is provided with aneye 11 at the upper' end thereof for the at-y tachment of -asuitableline Afor the purpose hereinafter described. A split ring orspreader' 14 is arranged on the throat 6 and has an upper'and outerrabbet 16. A plurality of screws 15 are engagedthrough the said ring orspreader to engage in the'longitudinal slots 18 in the throat G toconstrain the ring against rotation. The ring 14 is constructed ofspring metal and is'slidable on the throat 6 between the shoulders 96and 28.

In use, it being understood that cement, concrete, or other solidifyingmatter having been previously poured into the bottom of the well asdesignated by the reference character C and the well casing having beenloweredY into the well atajpoint slightly above the cement or concretetherein, the plug is inserted into the upper end of the well casing, thespreader orfring 14 having been compressed within the casngto have anouter tension. The plug is then lowered down the well casing'by asuitable means such as are employed for lowering drill bits and the likeinto deep wells, a line of suitable characterrbeing attached to the eye11 of the stem 10. Upon the plug reaching the lower end of the wellcasing the ring or annular spreader 14 which is seated against theshoulder 28 uponthe plug passing down the well casing, spreads to engagethe lower end the openings 27 to bite or engage the walls of the wellCasing, thereby preventing the plug from dropping out the lower end ofthe casing, the plug by the upward pull of the line attached to the stembeing drawn upward to bring the shoulder 26 a ainst the ring or sprea er14 thereby secure y closmg the lower end of the casing. Invthis manner.the plug is secured to the lower end'of the casing and by depressingthe well casing into the cement C in the bottom of the well, the cementis spread thereby to firmly embed the lower end of the well casing 1nthe cement to exclude or shut out water and other foreign matter fromthe lower strata of the well. It will be noted that upon the plug beinglowered down the well casing and the valve 9 being open permits thewater and other liquids in the well to pass through the opening 8,apertures 25 and the apertures 13 in the body to permit the plug to passreadily down the casing, and the fingers 19 in engaging the collar 28retain the dogs or pawls 21 in inactive position. Thus upon `the pluO'being engaged to the lower end of the well casing and the valve 9 beingclosed and upon the well casing being depressed into -the cement asubstantial support for the well casing is provided after the concreteor similar matter solidiesand also eii'ectively excludes the ingress ofwater and other foreign matter from the well as above described.

This invention is particularly adapted for use in oil wells, gas wellsand the like, especially those of considerable depth, where it isnecessary or desirable to shut out the water and other matter from thelower strata of the well, and it will be seen that this plug is botheiiicient and convenient in its use. This invention also provides meansfor sealing the lower end 0f the Well casing with a comparatively smallamount of cement or concrete, thus preventing the waste which accruesfrom methods now employed for thispurpose.

A plug constructed in accordance with the' present invention iscomparatively simple and thereby rendered inexpensive to manufact-ure.

A further feature of the present invention is the factthat the throat 6in being tapered permits the said throat to spread the ring 8, the saidvalve being held open 14 after the same has been engaged with the lowerend of t-he well and upon the plug being raised by the line attached tothe stem 10 to securely bind the said ring against the lower end of thewell casing and to also provide a secure joint between the body o-f the'plug and the said ring.

It is further understood that this invention is susceptible ofalteration in its details within the scope of the appended claimswithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is j 1. In a plug for well casings, a body adapted topass down the well casing, and expansible means carried thereby andadapted to fit slidably and compressibly in the casing so as to expandand engage the lower end of the casing, when the body reaches the lowerend of the casing.

2. In a plug for well casings, a plug body adapted to pass down a wellcasing, and a spreader carried thereby and adapted to lit slidably andcompressibly in the casing so as to expand and engage the lower end ofthe casing when the body reaches the lower end of the casing.

3. In a plug for well casings, a body adapted to pass down the wellcasing, and an expansible split ring carried thereby and adapted to tslidably and compressibly in the casing so as to expand and engage .thelower end of the casing, when the body reaches the lower end of thecasing.

4. In a plug orwell casings, a hollow body adapted to pass down a wellcasing and provlded with means for engaging the casing, a valve for thesaid body, and means for closing the said valve on the body beingengaged to the well casing.

5. In a plug for well casings, a hollow body adapted to pass down a wellcasing and provided with means to engage the casing, a stem slidablethrough thel body and a valve secured on the lower end of the stemadapted to close the passage through the said body.

6. In a plug for well casings, Va hollow body adapted to pass downv awell casing and provided with means for engaging the casing, a springpressed stem slidable through the body, a valve secured on the lower endof the said-stem adapted to close the passage through the body, and,means for normally holding the valve in open position.

7. In a plug for well casings, a body adapted to pass down a well casingand provided with means for engaging the casing, a stemslidable throughthe body, means for normally holding the stem against upward movement,and dogs carried by the body to engage the walls of the casing butnormally held in inactive position by the said stem.

8. A plug for well casings comprising a hollow body embodying aperforated conical top, an inverted conical bottom having the apex open,a perforated partition above the bottom, and a tapered interveningthroat with its smallest end uppermost, the body having openings in itssi es above the said throat, a stem slidable through the said top andpartition, and extending through the openlng in the bottom, an invertedconical valve secured on the lower end of the said stem and adapted toseat in the opening in the bottom, a pair of collars on the said stemabove the partition, a coiled compression spring on the stem between thepartition andthe lowermost collar, dogs pivoted" in the openin s in theupper end of the body andy having inwardly projecting fingers adapted torest on the uppermost colar to retain the dogs in inactive position, afragile pin for retaining the stem in depressed position, and anexpandible ring on the said throat adapted to engage the well casing.

9. A plug for well casings, embodying a body adapted to pass down a wellcasing, means carried thereby for engaging the lower end of the casing,to prevent the upward movement of the body, means carried by the bodyfor engaging the well casing to lock the body against downward movement,and means for normally holding the latter means in inoperative positionand for permitting the same to engage the casing when the former hasengaged the lower end of the easing.

10. In a plug for well casings, a body adapted to pass down a wellcasing, and an eXpansible ring carried thereby having an upper rabbet toengage the lower end of the casing.

l1. In a plug for wellv casings, a body adapted to pass down a wellcasing, dogs pivoted to the body and adapted to engage the well casingwhen free, the dogs having fingers, a stem slidable'through the bodyhaving means to engage the said fingers so as to normally retain thedogs in inoperative position, and means for normally holding the stemagainst movement so as to retain the dogs in inoperative position.

12. In a plug for well casings, a body adapted to pass down a wellcasing and having a passage therethrough, well casing engaging meanscarried by the body, means carried by the body for closing the passagetherethrough, and means for normally retaining the latter means in openposition.

13. In a plug for well casings, a body adapted to pass down a wellcasing and havlng a passage therethrough, well casing engaging meanscarried by the body, spring actuated means carried by the body forclosing the passage therethrough, and means for normally detaining thelatter means in open position against the tension thereof.

14. In a plug for well casings, a body adapted to pass down a wellcasing and having a passage therethrough, well casing engaglng meanscarried by the body, a spring pressed valve carried by the body forclosing the passage therethrough, and means for normally retainin thevalve in open position against the tenslon thereof.

15. In a plug for well casings, a body adapted to pass down a wellcasing and having a passage therethrough, a stem slidable through thebody, a valve on the stem for closing the passage through the body, anda fragile member carried by the body and engaglng the stem to normallyretain the valve in open position.

16. In a plug for well casings, a hollow body includlng a bottomprovided with an opening and having a perforated partition above thebottom, a stem slidable through the partition and assing through thesaid opening, and a va ve on the lower end of the stem to close the saidopening.

17. In a lug for well casings, a hollow body includmg a bottom providedwith an opening and having a perforated partition above the bottom, astem slidable through the partition and passing through the saidopening, a valve on the lower end of the stem to close the said opening,a spring between the stem and partition tending to close the valve, andmeans for normally retaining the stem against the tension of the saidspring so as to hold the valve open.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presence of two witnesses.

REUBEN C. BAKER. wWitnesses:

C. W. HUTCHIsoN, J. A'. STEELE.

